The 50th Executive Council Meeting (ECM) of the Indian Yoga Association (IYA) was held online on July 22, 2025, under the leadership of President Maa Dr. Hansaji Yogendra. The meeting was attended by Shri S. Sridharan, Vice President; Shri Subodh Tiwari, Secretary General; Dr. S.P. Mishra, CEO IYA PrCB; Dr. Manjunath, Director, Research Committee and Prof. Elangovan, Member, Executive Committee
A Sacred Beginning
The session began on a serene note with the chanting of the Shanti Mantra by Shri S. Sridharan. Maa Dr Hansaji Yogendra opened the meeting by acknowledging the dedication of members and the growing vibrancy of State Chapters. The minutes of the previous meeting, held on May 8, 2025, were confirmed with unanimous approval.
Action Taken: The Progress
The Action Taken Report presented by the Secretary General reflected steady momentum across various fronts. The Yog Setu at Parmarth Niketan on May 25, 2025, drew around 50 participants despite challenging weather and led to the onboarding of a new associate centre and YPM. The Monthly Cycle Sessions continued to engage members with enriching talks by speakers such as Shri Durgadas Sawant and Shri M. Janakiraman.
Preparations for the Global Yoga Research Conference, to be held from January 30 to February 1, 2026, at AOL Ashram, are in full swing under the coordination of Shri Sridharan and Dr. Manjunath. The monthly workshops at Rashtrapati Bhavan received warm appreciation from the Hon’ble President of India, while the Manthan lecture series maintained its rhythm with upcoming online sessions already lined up. Another milestone was the commencement of IYA PrCB Certification at Mokshayatan, strengthening the journey towards standardization in yoga.
IYA’s active role in IDY 2025 celebrations was well recognized at the Ministry level, and the special Guru Purnima Instagram Live was celebrated as a creative outreach effort that connected warmly with the community.
Exciting Events on the Horizon
The ECM gave its nod to several significant upcoming events. Yog Setu – Indore will be hosted on August 3, 2025, at Parmanand Yoga Institute with the participation of Dr. H.R. Nagendra and Shri Radheshyam Mishra. This will be followed by Yog Setu – Kerala on August 31, 2025, at AOL Kochi. The much-anticipated National Conclave of State Chapter Committees will take place from November 7 to 9, 2025, at Lekhak Gaon, Rishikesh, offering members an immersive experience with workshops, satsangs, and nature walks.
Strengthening Chapters and Global Ties
The meeting confirmed amendments to the Andhra Pradesh State Chapter Committee, welcoming Sri Paritala Gopi Krishna and Dr. Satyamurty Kashibhatta as Vice Chairpersons. On the international front, discussions regarding a formal MoU with the Yoga Association of Australia are progressing positively. With 2,500 teachers and 150 yoga institutes already associated, this collaboration is set to carry the legacy of traditional yoga into Australian communities.
Recognizing Excellence
The Council unanimously resolved to honour Dr. Vrukshakapi (Dr. A.L.V. Kumar) with the Yoga Chikitsa Ratna Award for his exceptional contributions in the field of yoga therapy.
Decisions Shaping the Future
Several forward-looking organizational decisions were also finalized. The IYA PrCB Certification at SVYASA will be inaugurated at the Convocation on January 12, 2026, with registrations opening in November 2025. The Council also approved a ChatGPT subscription for the research team to support academic initiatives, and sanctioned a new website and app banner policy that will enable revenue generation through member institute advertisements. To encourage broader international participation, the membership fee structure was revised, setting YVM at $10, YPM at $40, and Life Membership at $250.
A Collective Spirit
The meeting drew to a close with words of gratitude from Maa Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, who emphasized that the strength of IYA lies in collective effort and shared vision. The session concluded with the chanting of the Shanti Mantra, leaving everyone inspired to continue working towards expanding the reach of yoga worldwide.
